Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appears to be providing shelter to illegal housing societies which have swindled twin-city residents out of their hard-earned money.

The affectees of National Assembly Cooperative Housing Society have not been given plots so far. Similarly, Senate Cooperative Housing Society has snatched billion of rupees from people, including lawmakers.

Likewise, Jinnah Gardens Sawan and CBR Cooperative Housing Society have not given possession of residences yet.

CDA and Cooperative Societies registrars have tightened their lips on the situation and not released statements. NAB after issuing arrest warrants for Commerce Ministry Housing Society President, Rana Ghulam Farid, has turned a blind eye to the matter.

Owners of these societies have allegedly greased the palms of the NAB Additional Director of cooperative housing societies.

Though NAB has started a probe against the office-bearers of the Commerce Ministry Housing Society, it has not apprehended Farid since he has been ‘serving’ NAB officials for so long.

NAB Additional Director Ghaziur Rehman has also maintained a mysterious silence.

The National Assembly Cooperative Housing Society has affected several people but NAB is reluctant to act against its owners as most of its officials have benefited from them.

In the same way, those affected by the Senate Housing Society are running from pillar to post yet Ghazi is hesitant to take action. Sources said the society management has awarded a contract to sell 500 plots to a Karachi-based group which is in turn selling the plots without approval of CDA and NAB. Sources said that some NAB officials had given verbal permission in this regard. However, the illegal sale of plots was stopped after media reports surfaced.

Sawan Gardens has sold around 200 plots on the catchment land of River Sawan, but NAB refused to hold them accountable for land grabbing. Similarly, the owners of Jinnah Gardens are not ready to give plots to people whereas the files of CBR Housing Society are with FIA and the cooperatives registrar, but NAB is unwilling to take sufficient action.

Sources said Gulburg Housing Society sold state-owned land and the NAB had started a probe, but the owners succeeded in hushing up the matter by offering 100 plots to NAB officials. However, NAB authorities did not confirm this.

Sources also said Ghazi was living a lavish lifestyle, adding that he had bought several big houses and luxury vehicles in the name of his close relatives. The sources claimed that he uses cars worth millions of rupees without any fear of reprisal.

Talking to Daily Times, Ghazi asserted the NAB was taking action against the housing societies according to the law and it has already arrested several corrupt individuals.

“It is not in my knowledge that Rana Ghulam Farid is moving freely, as we issued his arrest warrant – but the Intelligence Wing of NAB is continuously following him,” he added.